title: Immunofluorescent and biochemical studies on dopamine-beta-hydroxylase and catecholamines in SIF cells of the superior cervical ganglion.
abstract: Small intensely fluorescent (SIF) cells in the superior cervical ganglion (SCG) of various laboratory animals were investigated: 1. Applying a combined method for successive demonstration of glyoxylic acid-induced catecholamine fluorescence and of indirect FITC-labelled antibody to dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) in the rat SCG very few SIF cell clusters stained DBH-positive. The majority of cell clusters was observed to be DBH-negative. In the guinea pig SCG, DBH-negative SIF cells were intermingled between DBH-positive SIF cells within large clusters. In the SCG of Syrian hamster, mouse C57BT10, desert mouse and rabbit all SIF-cells revealed the presence of DBH and thus of norepinephrine (NE) or epinephrine (E). 2. Gaschromatographic/mass fragmentographic measurements of catecholamines in SIF cell clusters of the rat SCG, which were separated frm the surrounding principal neurons by microlaser, disclosed a considerable concentration of E, and also a very low concentration of NE, within SIF cells. The results corroborate the hypothesis of a SIF cell heterogenity within sympathetic ganglia. They may also be discussed on the basis of a functional dualism of one SIF cell population.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000032:analysis*; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase / Q000378:metabolism*; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000032:analysis; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005728:Ganglia, Sympathetic / Q000378:metabolism*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine